Project Number: 1940-32000-056-10
Project Type: Trust

Start Date: Sep 01, 2011
End Date: Jun 01, 2013

Objective:
The objective of this research project is to evaluate native and modified forms of Classical Swine Fever (CSF) envelope proteins for their capacity to induce rapid protective immune responses against CSF virus.

Approach:
The protective efficacy of the three virus envelope glycoproteins E0, E1 and E2 will be assessed in swine. Native forms of E0, E1 and E2, as well as harboring modifications that may enhance their immunogenicity, will be expressed in the baculovirus system and assessed in their ability to induce early protection within the first week after immunization. Modifications to the E0, E1 and E2 structure will include their fusion with immunostimulatory molecules (flagelin), or their ability to deliver to professional antigen presenting cells by fusing them to anti-class II antibodies or by increasing their immunogenicity by expressing them as highly complexed molecules to tetramers. It is expected that the introduced modifications would improve the efficiency of these candidate vaccines.